I expected better, mabe i should lay off the throttle a bit? anyone else get this low of mpg? I have been pretty heavy on the throttle i admit but i was expecting like 50+
The best I had is 60 (serious measurement). I got a GS500F I guess the fairing help. To get that I would start de bike slowly on the throttle then ride at 90kmh constanlty (no red light, no city).
I curious to see if anyone beat me.
My best is also 60. :woohoo:
Slow acceleration. No revving above 5.5k. No traffic lights. 90% 85 - 90kph. No Bursts on the throttle. No wind to speak of.
38.8mpg is NOT very good. Something not right there.
Did you....
#1: Fill up bike the same way? That is.... to the bottom of the filler sleeve.
#2: Was the bike on the same Stand - either side stand or center stand for both tank ups?
#3: Check your tire pressure to make sure it was the same. Suzuki recommends 33 for the front and 36 for the back. That's the OEM BT45s
#4: Check your airfilter. Clogged airfilter = poor performance in ALL vehicles - cars, trucks, batmobiles...
#5: Did you make sure the choke was OFF? What is your idle RPM?
What do you mean by "heavy on the throttle"? What RPM do you sit at in say 4th gear, 5th gear and 6th gear? You may be riding in a gear one to low for the speed you are doing.
Michael
Yes filled it up the same way with the kickstand down.. different gas station though. I ran out of gas again (had only about 145 miles on the tank) had to turn it to the reserve then rode to the gas station. I think i filled it to about the same level as i did the tank before. The choke is off within about 1-2 minute of turning the bike on.. I do leave it on for about a minute straight full choke it revvs to about 4k and holds... this is for warmup. When choke is off i believe it idles around 1k or 1.1k
I did alot of full throttle runs i guess.. lots of redlines and basicly just joyrides. I cruise at 4-5k rpm usually when im on a straight away and not playing around.
how do u check the airfilter? ill look for that
If you seat on the bike you will put more fuel. Btw also it takes a lot of time to full the tank at max, at the end you have to pump very slowly.
Hmm, best I've ever done is 74mpg, this was on a very flat, fairly hot (90+) day of 70-80mph riding. Usually touring I'll do mid 60s. Commuting with lots of intersection (100% city) I get 45-48. 38mpg seems low, but not crazy/broken low. Have you tried just riding on the freeway for a while? Do 100 miles or so of freeway and report back...
you do know that you have a reserve right? you know that little half gallon that your sposta us to get you to a gas station in the event you dont know enough to put gas in. how do you guys run outta gas. i have put on 8k miles in 2 riding seasons and only hit reserve 2 times. run your bike petcock in the ON posistion when its sputters flip to the RES side and head for a gas station. Its not rocket science. Maybe you guys like to push more then ride. If i wanted to push i would have bought a stroller.
I typically get 50 mpg (that's US gallon) when I 'm doing light city riding.
Light city = intersections and stops : Cruise around 4K, don't go over 7K accelerating.
Keep in mind the UK gallon is about 1.2x the US gallon.
So your mileage may vary :icon_rolleyes:
BTW It's a '98 naked with 42,000km / 26,000miles
Quote from: joshr08 on November 03, 2009, 03:59:04 AM
you do know that you have a reserve right? you know that little half gallon that your sposta us to get you to a gas station in the event you dont know enough to put gas in....... If i wanted to push i would have bought a stroller.
Quote from: Andy13186 on November 03, 2009, 12:26:00 AM
I ran out of gas again (had only about 145 miles on the tank) had to turn it to the reserve then rode to the gas station.
Maybe you should read a little better before you decide you want to be a smart ass. Hahaha :flipoff:
I've got between 50 and 33 mpg. The bike with 10K miles with in traffic and fairly normal driving was in the high 40's to 50. As it got older and got less powerful, it gradually dropped ... through the 20-40K it dropped through the 40's and into the 30's. I ended up wtih ~35 around the time it got to that 48K mark I sold it at.
So your gas mileage may be a function of how many miles or how ham fisted you are. Mind you, I went to K&N and pipe @ ~25K miles.
Cool.
Buddha.
I get/got an overall of approx 60 mpg for the past 10 years and 150k miles on my 97 and then 02 GS's. It can drop to as low as 50-55 mpg for short trip winter riding and for summer spirited riding in the mountains. Running for hours keeping it in the 7-9k performance rpm range brings it down to the 50 mpg range in the mountain twisties. The carbs were left stock on both of my GS's. If your going to mess with the carbs rejetting for performance or greater flexibility then your going to pay for it at the pumps. Back during the first 5 years I had my 97 I was riding with a friend that rode "legal", he was a big cruiser buff and loved to cruise and we rode all over western PA almost daily and I got more like 65-70 mpg following him. I decided to go for 300 miles on a 4.5 gal tank one day and put in just a tad over 4 gal in the 4.5 gal 97 GS tank at 300 miles. If I took the lead he would disappear behind me. I hit reserve at 220-240 miles summers and 200-220 miles winters on my 02 GS with the 5.3 gal tank. Both bikes have/had over a gallon on reserve.
Quote from: joshr08 on November 03, 2009, 03:59:04 AM
you do know that you have a reserve right? you know that little half gallon that your sposta us to get you to a gas station in the event you dont know enough to put gas in. how do you guys run outta gas. i have put on 8k miles in 2 riding seasons and only hit reserve 2 times. run your bike petcock in the ON posistion when its sputters flip to the RES side and head for a gas station. Its not rocket science. Maybe you guys like to push more then ride. If i wanted to push i would have bought a stroller.
No body said anything about running out of gas. :cookoo: hes asking about his gas milage. as in why is only going 38.8 miles on one gallon of gas.
One more thing to add...
When I bought the bike @ 35000km no valve adjustment had been done.
The Right exhaust valve was so far out of spec that it was nearly running on one cylinder til it warmed up.
My mileage was about 35mpg before I adjusted them. And the exhaust always smelled of unburnt fuel til I did it.
Just thought I would add that.
i've gotten 65mpg on the highway. but if it's in town i usually get about 42mpg because i am not light on the throttle lol.
I don't pretend to know what my mpg is, but here's some math homework if anybody wants to take a crack at it. My bike is a 2005 GS500F, completely stock.
Gas here is sold in litres, not gallons. 3.79 litres are in a gallon.
Gas prices fluctuate from .85 to .95 cents Canadian, per liter.
1 CAD = .93 USD as of this morning.
I have been too chicken to ride my trip meter past 325 kilometers after a fillup on the kickstand, which is 201 miles.
When I fill the tank from 325 km (201 miles), it costs me approximately $14-15 CAD.
Have at 'er boys.
I ride on main tank till 300kms then switch to reserve and ride another 100kms - 400kms between fills.
Last time I filled up it took just over 16ltrs.
02 naked gs with 26000kms here.
i wasnt being a smart ass. if you say you ran outta gas your tank is empty not still having reserve. out of gas is out of gas.
I think you may have a problem there. When my bike was running on 1 cylinder intermittently, I got exactly 37 mpg. Soon as I got her back in spec, boom, 58 mpg.
Quote from: joshr08 on November 03, 2009, 03:24:02 PM
i wasnt being a smart ass. if you say you ran outta gas your tank is empty not still having reserve. out of gas is out of gas.
:cookoo:
I can't understand this fascination with what fuel milage you get from your bike. Bikes are there to be ridden and enjoyed and the best way to enjoy a bike is to twist the right grip. Yes I do know roughly what the fuel usage is on both of my bikes, but thats because I like to be aware of when I'm going to possibly need fuel when I'm travelling on new roads.
Maybe instead of owning a bike a toyota prius is a more suitable vehicle for you, I hear they get wonderful fuel economy.
Quote from: bubba zanetti on November 03, 2009, 05:43:51 PM
Maybe instead of owning a bike a toyota prius is a more suitable vehicle for you, I hear they get wonderful fuel economy.
Probably not, small bikes like the gs get better economy than the prius :D
Quote from: bubba zanetti on November 03, 2009, 05:43:51 PM
I can't understand this fascination with what fuel milage you get from your bike. Bikes are there to be ridden and enjoyed and the best way to enjoy a bike is to twist the right grip. Yes I do know roughly what the fuel usage is on both of my bikes, but thats because I like to be aware of when I'm going to possibly need fuel when I'm travelling on new roads.
Maybe instead of owning a bike a toyota prius is a more suitable vehicle for you, I hear they get wonderful fuel economy.
Sorry to thread jack but I have to disagree with that statement. Some of us do own bikes solely for the gas mileage. I ride my CB250 to work whenever I can because it gets 70 miles to the gallon verse the 17 my truck gets. Simple economics. And keeping track of your gas mileage on any kind of vehicle can help alert you when a problem is arising. My 2 cents...
-Jessie
The only reason I've ever figured out what my mileage was, is because everyone else always talked about it. Aside from that I could care less, I destroy gas mileage when I'm having fun on a motorcycle. I make up for it by riding a bicycle 99.5 of the times I'm going anywhere. $$ 0 gallons per mile $$.
My 05 F model has slipped a bit since I changed the air filter and plugs. The filter is a HI Flo and Motorcycle Super Store claimed it didn't require any mods to use it. It' was getting 58 plus with a best of 67 and consistantly getting 58 with my wife and I riding it. Now it's getting 52 to 55 but I am riding it a bit harder, still 50 plus is very good milage, I do love this little bike. I think I'll get a OEM air filter and see if it helps.
Quote from: bubba zanetti on November 03, 2009, 05:43:51 PM
I can't understand this fascination with what fuel milage you get from your bike. Bikes are there to be ridden and enjoyed and the best way to enjoy a bike is to twist the right grip. Yes I do know roughly what the fuel usage is on both of my bikes, but thats because I like to be aware of when I'm going to possibly need fuel when I'm travelling on new roads.
Maybe instead of owning a bike a toyota prius is a more suitable vehicle for you, I hear they get wonderful fuel economy.
actually for ALOT of people, fuel milage is the main reason for owning a bike. and yes for ALOT more people fun is the main reason, but still fuel milage is a huge issue for alot of folks, especially ones who are only making 20,000 a year.
Quote from: commuterdude on November 03, 2009, 03:26:50 PM
I think you may have a problem there. When my bike was running on 1 cylinder intermittently, I got exactly 37 mpg. Soon as I got her back in spec, boom, 58 mpg.
what other symptoms did you have when it was doing that? my bike feels pretty strong nothing seems wrong with it.. i topped it out at 110 mph too.. also how did you fix it?
fuel mileage isnt the main reason of me owning a bike.. i have a car too its 2003 mustang gt(both my vehicals are for fun).. it gets 15 mpg lol.. so this is still way better but i expected more . I guess i cant expect to get really good mileage when i drive it hard though.
Sure, ride a bike than drive something that gets crap fuel economy makes sense. Worry about getting and extra mile or two per gallon out of something that already gets good economy is what I can't understand. Just get out and ride your bike and enjoy it, leave worrying about fuel economy to the tree hugging hippies.
Quote from: RyanMidd on November 03, 2009, 12:57:54 PM
I don't pretend to know what my mpg is, but here's some math homework if anybody wants to take a crack at it. My bike is a 2005 GS500F, completely stock.
Gas here is sold in litres, not gallons. 3.79 litres are in a gallon.
Gas prices fluctuate from .85 to .95 cents Canadian, per liter.
1 CAD = .93 USD as of this morning.
I have been too chicken to ride my trip meter past 325 kilometers after a fillup on the kickstand, which is 201 miles.
When I fill the tank from 325 km (201 miles), it costs me approximately $14-15 CAD.
Have at 'er boys.
When you tank up, how many liters are you putting in? Can't work out MPG without knowing how much gas is going into it.
Depending on the riding I do, I will hit reserve between 330 and 360 kms. BUT, once I hit 300 I usually tank up first thing in the morning.
BUBBA:
Knowing your Mileage helps you know if you have issues. My fluctuates a little due to... riding style, wind strength, how high I fill due to my desire to Round Up to a whole or half dollar in price - so sometimes I fill it more than others. If it drops below what is the Norm for the bike, I know something is up.
Bikes are there to be used for whatever purposes their owner deems.
ANDY: Riding at redline will not get you anywhere near 50mpg. The bike is revving nearly twice as high compared to just cruising. So your spark plugs are firing many more time for the distance traveled.
Michael
My 2008 500F with twin K&N and 20/62.5/147.5 jets always returns 4.3-4.4L/100 (64-65mpg UK / 54 MPG US) on my commute to work.
Which BTW is slightly better than I got stock.
The next time I buy a bike to save gas mileage I'm just going to buy a hayabusa and gear it really tall so I can cruise down the highway going 70mph at idle. It's a pretty well thought out plan.
Quote from: tt_four on November 04, 2009, 07:47:05 AM
The next time I buy a bike to save gas mileage I'm just going to buy a hayabusa and gear it really tall so I can cruise down the highway going 70mph at idle. It's a pretty well thought out plan.
haha let me know how that works out for ya :laugh:
I've always been curious how it would be to take a bike with normal(or even lowered gearing for that matter), and change the internal gearing of your engine to make 6th gear super tall. I know people like to put on a smaller rear chainwheel for lower RPMs and better mileage, but if you did my idea internally you could keep your pull in 1st-5th gear, and just keep 6th as a cruising gear. It would be like shifting through gears from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 then straight to 9th gear, and no matter how much pull you had in 1st and second gear for traffic and twisty back roads, you could comfortably cruise at 4-5k rpm on the highway.
Oh easy. Take the motor out.
Open it up - all of it, you're getting to the transmission, which in a motor with a 1 story engine case design is accesible after removing the head, the cyls, splitting the cases, and its in the back and then take the 6th gear wheels out. machine new ones to have the same total of the diameters, but the driver is larger than the driven wheel, the dogs remain the same as it is, and you put it back together.
If it was a 2 story engine case design, you would be able to get the transmission out by inverting the whole bike with the motor still in the frame, taking off the pan and the transmission is right there.
The only bike I know of that employed this design is an XS/XJ1100 that ... well taller gearing isn't its biggest problem.
Cool.
Buddha.
Are we really complaining about almost 40 miles per gallon? Up until a few months ago, I was lucky to hit fifty miles before I hit reserve. That makes what, 18-20 miles per gallon? Now, after having replaced my terribly clogged pilot jet on the left carb, I average about 100 miles before reserve. That makes what, 35-40 mpg? Could it be better? Sure. Am I happy with it? Absolutely.
You may still be high on floats or other maladies ...
BTW what gas mileage do people that run my carbs get ... I'd test it myself, but at the moment I dont have a running GS and when I did, I never bothered to check this particular thing ... well cos there is better stuff to do ... Like see what parts are falling off the bike.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: tt_four on November 04, 2009, 11:27:23 AM
I've always been curious how it would be to take a bike with normal(or even lowered gearing for that matter), and change the internal gearing of your engine to make 6th gear super tall. I know people like to put on a smaller rear chainwheel for lower RPMs and better mileage, but if you did my idea internally you could keep your pull in 1st-5th gear, and just keep 6th as a cruising gear. It would be like shifting through gears from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 then straight to 9th gear, and no matter how much pull you had in 1st and second gear for traffic and twisty back roads, you could comfortably cruise at 4-5k rpm on the highway.
Great Idea!! Thatd be awesome, and Buddha, I read your explination and kinda get it, but do you know anywhere that has pictures of this?
Quote from: tt_four on November 04, 2009, 11:27:23 AM
I've always been curious how it would be to take a bike with normal(or even lowered gearing for that matter), and change the internal gearing of your engine to make 6th gear super tall. I know people like to put on a smaller rear chainwheel for lower RPMs and better mileage, but if you did my idea internally you could keep your pull in 1st-5th gear, and just keep 6th as a cruising gear. It would be like shifting through gears from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 then straight to 9th gear, and no matter how much pull you had in 1st and second gear for traffic and twisty back roads, you could comfortably cruise at 4-5k rpm on the highway.
I don't think the GS produces enough torque to turn a ultra overdrive like that. When you shifted into it it would just bog the engine out. Now a big V twin with pistons that look like coffie cans, it might turn something like that but not a 500.
I must apologise to all you fuel misers, I got motorcyclists mixed up with motorbike riders.
Quote from: lilwoody on November 04, 2009, 03:11:26 PM
I don't think the GS produces enough torque to turn a ultra overdrive like that. When you shifted into it it would just bog the engine out. Now a big V twin with pistons that look like coffie cans, it might turn something like that but not a 500.
Well I think I definitely exaggerated my example, but I still like the idea
Quote from: bubba zanetti on November 04, 2009, 03:49:36 PM
I must apologise to all you fuel misers, I got motorcyclists mixed up with motorbike riders.
I dont get it.
Quote from: Andy13186 on November 03, 2009, 09:20:29 PM
Quote from: commuterdude on November 03, 2009, 03:26:50 PM
I think you may have a problem there. When my bike was running on 1 cylinder intermittently, I got exactly 37 mpg. Soon as I got her back in spec, boom, 58 mpg.
what other symptoms did you have when it was doing that? my bike feels pretty strong nothing seems wrong with it.. i topped it out at 110 mph too.. also how did you fix it?
fuel mileage isnt the main reason of me owning a bike.. i have a car too its 2003 mustang gt(both my vehicals are for fun).. it gets 15 mpg lol.. so this is still way better but i expected more . I guess i cant expect to get really good mileage when i drive it hard though.
I had a bad fuel tap on the frame. I did the Honda dirtbike tap swap and instantly had my left cylinder back. Prior to that it would drop the left cylinder at odd times or pick it up only over 3000 rpm, etc. It was really weird. I even dropped the bike riding on a farm path when I cornered and the left cylinder came to life. Yes the bike would top out over 100, I believe the added induction vacumn (?) at wide open throttle was enough to pull gas through to the left cylinder. It would pick up the cylinder and squirt ahead under WOT, and as I generally stayed in the throttle pretty well, a lot of times I would not pay much attention to the fact that it was running on one cylinder a lot. Does your bike bog or run on 1 cylinder at any time? If so, as a test you can bypass the frame tap with a straight line from the tank and see if that helps.
Quote from: gregvhen on November 04, 2009, 04:30:43 PM
Quote from: bubba zanetti on November 04, 2009, 03:49:36 PM
I must apologise to all you fuel misers, I got motorcyclists mixed up with motorbike riders.
I dont get it.
Someone who thinks their biking ethic is better than others who have a different point of veiw.
i like riding things with engines!!! :D :woohoo:
Quote from: gregvhen on November 04, 2009, 05:55:39 PM
i like riding things with engines!!! :D :woohoo:
Things with engines aren't always the best things to ride.
BTW woodster, I've got no ethics.